Flutter vs. React Native: Choosing the Best Framework in 2024

You are not sure which one to choose for your mobile app project; Flutter vs React Native, this blog will give you all the answers to help you make an informed decision. 

A lot of companies find it difficult to derive at the point from a plethora of options when it comes to choosing an appropriate cross-platform framework for application development. React Native and Flutter are the most popular and respected among the available options.

React Native and Flutter are app development frameworks. They both help in building interactive apps for Android and iOS. Both can, therefore, be used to satisfy the need, but the difference between them guides you in choosing which is preferable for you. 

Whether you are a seasoned developer, a tech enthusiast, or a business owner looking to expand your digital presence, understanding how to choose the right mobile app development services for your next mobile app is crucial. 

In this write-up, we will take a brief look into some of the key major differences inherent in each of the platforms and also answer some of the most common questions. Read on to find out which framework will lead you to mobile app development success in 2024!

Why Use Flutter?

Flutter is mostly used for building cross-platform applications. Since it operates within a single codebase and renders into native code on each platform, Flutter engineers can create native-like applications faster and with lower development costs. Flutter apps comply with iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS and other platforms. both are cross-platform; for making the apps in Flutter, we use Android Studio and Visual Studio code for development and compiling its Dart language into native code. 

While Flutter can be used for front-end and back-end, most developers use it for front-end because of the attractive features and for making the application attractive, and most developers use it for backend development because of its easy integration on both mobile and web.

Is Flutter The Future?

Flutter’s motto in 2023 was to facilitate mobile app development services to turn app ideas into amazing realities by enabling effortlessly efficient and aesthetically sound solutions. Flutter’s top business benefits include cost savings, greater customer appeal, and access to multiple platforms.

Flutter app development has a promising future. The framework is still in its infancy and has much potential for development. Flutter is open-source and free to use. Google also builds it, so there’s plenty of support.

Here are some lists of apps and web apps that were built using Flutter:

• Alibaba
• New York Times
• E bay motors
• My BMW
• Toyota
• Hamilton 

Why Use React Native

React Native, on the other hand, has been considered commercially viable for a long time. It was not developed or supported enough to produce “native” programs. Although React Native does not compile its JavaScript code into the native language, it does use JavaScript. It allows developers to run apps on both IOS and Android operating systems, enabling a seamless user experience across platforms.

But times have changed. React Native is gaining popularity, community support, and market share. Writing great apps with React Native is on the rise, and the world is noticing.

Is React Native dead?

Flutter app development experts won’t say so. This is because some popular React Native apps include Skype, Tesla, Uber Eats, and Wix. These platforms leveraged React Native’s ability to build native apps using JavaScript and the React framework. So if you are looking to develop your next mobile app using this app development framework and wonder if this language still has some substance, you already have the answer. 

Here is a list of some of the most popular projects that are made in React just to give you better context and understanding for comparing both languages:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Airbnb
• Discord
• Netflix

Flutter VS React Native; A Detailed Comparison

A Brief Insight Into Flutter

Language

Flutter uses a prominent programming language called Dart, and developers rarely use it for many reasons, the most common being the late arrival of Dart because, when Dart was introduced, many programmers had already become proficient in other languages.

UI interface

It provides interface objects and an engine that implements Flutter animations, graphics, and files to create an interactive interface for users; in this, we used widgets that can make it easy for new developers to create interactive UIs.

Performance

If developers were asked about the performance of using Flutter, the interaction with the native components would be faster than with React Native. This means if you are looking to build a responsive app, React Native could be a good choice. 

Popularity

Flutter is relatively new compared to React and is now widely used in making interactive applications; if you want to make your app more interactive, Flutter is a good option despite being relatively new in the industry.

Community support

Over 155k users in Github are using Flutter because of its features, and compared to React, it is relatively new in the industry. Still, the community of this language is growing fast because of the Dart language, which makes Flutter different from React Native.

Let’s talk about React Native

Language

React Native is written in JavaScript because it is the most commonly used language in the world for making websites and mobile app development services for interactive projects.

UI interface

It provides an interactive UI for the users to develop applications, but it is more complicated and time-consuming than Flutter.

Performance

The applications’ performance in the React native mobile app is slower than Flutter because it still has the Javascript layer, which can make their performance slower than Flutter.

Popularity

React is the most popular development language mainly because when React was being globally recognized and used, it didn’t have a competitor like Flutter; that’s why the popularity of that language is higher than Flutter. 42.62% of users are using the React native app for their development because of its popularity. 

Community support

If you were to consider the community size of React Native, it has 1.7k active users in GitHub who are using React Native for their development, but most of them are moving to Flutter because of the diversity of Flutter and for the need for development purposes.

Pros and cons of using Flutter and React Native

Flutter

Pros:

• In Flutter, developers can work faster than React because they can get everything under one language or platform.
• Suppose anyone is new in the developing field. Flutter offers a rather easier learning curve as it allows them to work in widgets, and it’s easy for the newbies to get used to working on the Flutter language.
• Another notable advantage of using Flutter is the interactive UI of the app, which can easily grab users’ attention.

Cons:

• Flutter is relatively new in the market compared to React, so the Flutter community is small. This can account for community support, lack of information, and a “you’re on your kid” feel.
• Lack of native UI changes life if OS develops a new version, so the UI of Flutter cannot adapt easily.
• Few experienced developers work with Flutter because it’s new in the market.

React Native

Pros:

• Compared to Flutter, the React native framework can be easy to learn because we use JavaScript, the most commonly used language for web and mobile development.
• As we have a larger React native app development community than Flutter, if you are stuck somewhere and want anyone’s help, you can easily find an experienced person in that field.
• The code is usable, so we can easily modify and fix it.

Cons:

• There is a need for more custom modules, and we have to use many libraries to make them customized.
• Facing unstable problems in UI and interface is one of the more common problems in React Native mobile apps.
• The apps on React Native are difficult to debug.

Which is best for you, Flutter or React Native?

When it comes to choosing between Flutter and React Native for your mobile app development project, it’s important to consider various factors beyond just the popularity of these app development frameworks. Your decision should be based on your project’s specific needs, budget constraints, timeline, and ease of use.

You also need to consider these questions. Have you considered the flexibility and performance each framework offers? Are you aware of the market trends and adoption rates of these technologies? With Flutter gaining popularity for its customizable UI capabilities and React Native is known for its ease of development, which factors weigh more heavily for your project?

In essence:

• Flutter would be preferable if you do a project customized to the core with no UI issues. 
• Likewise, go with React if you want to do an easygoing project in the development phase.

Getting Started With Your Mobile App Development

Both app development frameworks have pros and cons and are cross-platform. So, before choosing any of them, one must first gather the needs of their project and then check which type of project they want to make.

If you’re still struggling to go with one of the options or facing a tough time pinpointing the needs of your application. That isn’t where all your mobile app development problems stop. 

Introducing Cubix, a renowned mobile app development company with 15+ years of turning potential ideas into lucrative, intuitive app solutions. With a huge clientele of SMEs, Startups, and several Fortune 500 companies like PayPal, Walmart, etc. in their portfolio, their development team is all set to take care of your mobile app from scratch to launch. 

Whether looking for Flutter React developers, react Native experts, or both, Cubix is your go-to choice for all your development needs. Everything is handled, from mobile apps and web solutions to AR/VR-based applications.

So what are you waiting for? Contact Cubix today and let their leading mobile app development services bring your vision to a perfect reality!